Praetorian Swirl Violet

Latin praetōriānus, of the praetor — adjectival suffix, referring to the Roman-Imperial elite guard-cohorts. As a color modifier, praetorian implies a saturated-and-elite-and-imperial-guard quality, the deep-rich color of Roman-Praetorian-Guard elite-imperial-bodyguard scarlet-tunic-and-bronze-armor military-formation. Sits at the bold-and-formal end of the grid, parallel to spartan and imperial.

Middle English swirlen, to-whirl-in-eddies. As a color modifier, swirl implies a curling-and-eddying-and-spiraling quality, the visual register of Van-Gogh-Starry-Night-and-Hokusai-Wave-swirl hand-curling-and-eddying-and-spiraling Van-Gogh-Starry-Night-and-Hokusai-Wave-and-Art-Nouveau swirled-and-curling-and-eddying-and-spiraling surfaces under Van-Gogh-Starry-Night-and-Hokusai-Wave-and-Art-Nouveau brush-stroke-and-cresting-wave-and-vine-tendril nocturne-light. Sits at the modifier-and-mood end of the grid, parallel to eddy and stir in usage.

Viola odorata, the European sweet violet — small, fragrant, and the original meaning of the color name in English (the Violet of the rainbow). The color refers to a fresh sweet violet blossom in late winter: a saturated, slightly red-shifted deep blue-purple with the matte finish of small five-petaled flower. Cooler than amethyst, warmer than indigo, with the perfumed weight of a flower used in Roman garlands and Victorian eau de toilette.